OVERVIEW: The Bay & Paul Foundations is committed to the environment, education, and arts and culture as a matter of “social compact” and as “agents of change.”

IP TAKE: The environment is a primary focus of this foundation, a cause it describes as “ecosystem integrity.” Importantly, the Bay & Paul Foundations also frames its support of the environment as support of a social movement. It expects proposals to demonstrate both program rigor and a vision for making life better for future generations.

PROFILE:The Bay & Paul Foundations is a name in plural because in 2005, two long-established sister foundations merged into one: The Bay Foundation and the Josephine Bay Paul and C. Michael Paul Foundation. Their commonality was Josephine Bay Paul, who established the former foundation with her first husband, and the latter with her second husband. Now streamlined, giving from the Bay & Paul Foundations stems from a desire to support a social movement that supports a just and ecologically sound society. The foundation ultimately seeks “to foster and accelerate initiatives that prepare agents of change working to strengthen our social compact and develop authentic solutions to the challenges of this pivotal century.” It funds arts and culture, the environment, research and several other areas.

The Bay & Paul Foundations funds animals and wildlife programming through its Research & Initiatives for Ecosystem Integrity focus area, with an additional aim to “preserve or repair biodiversity” by supporting work “often emphasizing culturally significant natural heritage conservation.” The foundation also suggests environmental work should address “economic and social sustainability goals.”